Advanced Creates Interactive Product Kiosks for Microsoft At Canadian Best Buy Locations

As consumers evolve to expect personalized, exciting shopping experiences, brands and retailers are developing new ways to attract attention and create meaningful in-store interactions. A prime example of this shift is Advanced’s recent installation of new Microsoft kiosks at eight Best Buy locations throughout Canada, which highlight Microsoft’s most popular software and hardware products with motion-activated ads, tutorials and demos.

According to Daniel Demarchi, Advanced account manager, each of the eight locations features an identical installation of three kiosks which utilize proximity sensors to activate ads and adjust how the demo experiences operate based on the number of participants and their engagement time.

“As a market leader in hardware, software and video games, Microsoft is well positioned to use modern technologies to heighten the in-store experience,” Demarchi said. “Differentiation is paramount in a crowded retail environment, and we were thrilled to help bring Microsoft’s vision to life, creating interactive kiosks that entice multiple simultaneous guests to demo and learn about the company’s latest products.”

The kiosks highlight the latest features and benefits of Microsoft Office, Microsoft XBOX and the Windows experience, with each kiosk operating in a slightly different manner. The Office kiosks feature a 55” LG display on each side, with the backside displaying ads and the front showing tutorials and interacting directly with the two laptops visitors can use to try the software and follow along with the demo.

The XBOX kiosk is similar, with a rear 55” LG display highlighting gameplay from top titles, and the front display connected to an XBOX with two controllers where guests can play a predetermined game. It also includes a second LG display on the rear of the kiosk that highlights gameplay from multiple games and entices Best Buy shoppers to make their way to the front of the kiosk to play a game right in store.

The last kiosk is focused on Windows’ Cortana, Ink and Hello features, and features a 2×3 LG videowall connected to three Microsoft devices (laptops and tablets) that allow for multiple simultaneous users. Like the other kiosks, the Windows version uses proximity sensors to activate call-to-action ads and promotional videos when people walk near it, but it also uses the sensors to manage its multiple devices capabilities. The videowall can show a single stream across all six panels, then when two or three people want to use the kiosk at the same time, the PC that controls the video feeds automatically separates the displays into three separate feeds so each guest can have a personal experience and explore products at their own speed.

“Creating a reliable system that can automatically perform under multiple scenarios is key to maintaining a positive experience for both the potential customer and the store owner and staff,” Advanced Executive Vice President Mark McPherson said. “We built a full demo kiosk at our facility, an exact mock experience, and worked with the retail designer to fine tune the sensors’ reaction time and multi-user protocols to maximize effectiveness. For tech products, these types of forward-thinking sales environments allow consumers to try before they buy, and are much more memorable and meaningful than simple ads or stand-alone demo products.”

In addition to activating ads and managing the videowall’s feed, the proximity sensors are used to change content based on engagement time, so guests can be prompted to move through a product’s features or to explore peripherals in a timely manner.

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About Gary Kayye

Gary Kayye, founder of rAVe Publications, is one of the most prominent personalities in the audiovisual industry. He has been a contributor to WIRED magazine and a technical advisor and columnist for Sound & Communications magazine as well as an opinionated columnist for rAVe [Publications] since 2003. In addition to his writing and market analysis, Gary has been a product, marketing and business operations consultant to dozens of AV companies in the U.S. and overseas. Clients have included companies such as Sony, Sharp, Epson, Lutron, InFocus, Sanyo, Mitsubishi, NEC and Philips.
Gary, who has been involved with the audiovisual market for over 20 years, was the recipient of the InfoComm 2003 Educator of the Year Award and the 2007 NSCA Instructor of the Year Award. Over the years, he has donated much of his time as an active volunteer in the AV industry’s trade association and served as chairman of InfoComm’s Professional Education & Training Committee (PETC), chairman of the ICIA Design School Committee and chairman of InfoComm’s Installation School Committee. In addition, he has served on the InfoComm board of governors. He also helped grow the InfoComm Projection Shoot-Out as the premiere AV industry trade show special event serving on the committee from 1991 through 1997, and was instrumental in launching the Shoot-Out in the European market at the Photokina Expo in 1994 and 1996 as well as the Asian market at the 1995 and 1997 INFOCOMM Asia shows.
Prior to founding his own company, Gary was vice president of sales and marketing for AMX Corporation (www.amx.com), a manufacturer specializing in professional AV and residential AV control systems. Prior to AMX, Gary spent nine years at Extron Electronics (www.extron.com), rising to the position of vice president of sales and marketing.
Gary earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1987 from the University of North Carolina and is currently Adjunct Faculty at UNC in the School of Journalism teaching a class on how future technologies will affect the future of advertising, PR and marketing.
He is also the founder of Swim for Smiles, a non-profit that raises money for the N.C. Children’s Hospital through swimming and other fitness-related events for kids.
You can contact him at gary@ravepubs.com..